Sixty-six years on: The promise of DRC independence remains unfulfilled
Key takeaways
- The DRC’s independence anniversary renews debate over progress, security and state capacity.
- On that day, King Baudouin I formally declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
- Outside, Kinshasa’s streets filled with scenes of jubilation as long-awaited freedom was proclaimed, albeit reluctantly, by the Belgian colonial administration.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
The DRC’s independence anniversary renews debate over progress, security and state capacity.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Congolese reflect on daily struggles as the country marks 66 years of independence [File: Luis Tato/AFP]By Prosper Heri Ngorora Published On 29 Jun 202629 Jun 2026Bunia, Democratic Republic of the Congo – It was Thursday, June 30, 1960, when Belgian and Congolese dignitaries gathered at the Palais de la Nation in Kinshasa, then known as Leopoldville, for a ceremony marking the end of more than seven decades of colonial rule.
On that day, King Baudouin I formally declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).